Shoe-horn



(No Model.)

W. H..LEWIS.

SHOE HORN.

No.' 588,15'6. Patented Aug. 17,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IYILLIAH HERMAN LElVIS, OF PRINCETON, INDIANA.

SHOE-HORN.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,156, dated August 17, 1897.

Application filed October 31, 1896. Serial No. 610,743. (No model.)

To all whom it 'nut (.IJILCL'I'IL.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HERMAN LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residin g at Princeton, in the county of Gibson and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Shoe-Horn, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide means for assisting the operation of fitting a shoe to the foot and obviating wrinkling or breaking down of the counter, which frequently happens when applying a closely-fitting shoe to the foot, especially of the type out low'and not provided with the usual rear pulling-strap. In order to facilitate the pulling on of low-quarter shoes, shoe-horns are extensively used, but said appliances do not provide a grip for enabling the full force to be applied directly to the shoe.

This invention combines with a shoe-horn of ordinary construction a loop to engage with the heel of the shoe and a pulling-strap to be grasped so that the shoe may be pulled onto the foot with comparative ease and without straining the counter or wrinkling the lining.

Other advantages will suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is thoroughly understood and are contemplated within the scope of this invention, and to a full disclosure of theimprovement reference is to be had to the following description and the several views of the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding and like parts are designated and referred to by the same reference-characters.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the' advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the invention, showing the'loop capable of adjustment so as to adapt the device for different-sized shoes. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a portion of the horn, showing the relation of the shouldered part of the rivet or fastening connecting the horn with the combined pulling-strap and loop. Figs. 4 are a detail view of the rivet or fastening, showing the shoulder contiguous to the head in side and end elevation. Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line X X of Fig. 2.

The horn lis of usual form, and may be eitherof metal, celluloid, or other material generally employed in the manufacture of this class of devices. The loop 2 is formed with or has attached thereto a pulling-strap 3 and is intended to receive the heel portion of the shoe, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. The horn l is connected with the loop 2 and is retained in place by the latter, so that when it is required to place a low-quarter shoe or slipper upon the foot it is only necessary to place the horn within the heel portion as commonly practiced and slip the loop 2 over the heel, and the toe of the foot being inserted into the shoe and the horn bearing against the heel the strap 3 is grasped either by one or both hands and is pulled upon with sufficient force to draw the shoe into place upon the foot. i

In order to provide for the disengagement of the loop from the heel of the shoe, the said loop is slidably connected with the horn,

whereby the loop may be moved toward the heel a sufficient distance to admit of its ready disengagement-from the heel, after which the horn is drawn from the shoe in the ordinary way.

and horn may be effected in any convenient way, and as shown the horn has a longitudinal slot 4 near its smaller end, and a rivet or fastening 5 passes through the slot and is connected with the loop, the head 6 of the rivet being sufficiently large to overlap the edges of the slot, so as to prevent the rivet or fastening pulling through. An oblong or shouldered portion 7 is provided on the body of the rivet or fastening contiguous to the head 6 and fits snugly within the slot 4, soas to prevent the relative turning of the horn, thereby keeping the latter and the loop and pulling-strap in line. The rivet is secured to the loop in the ordinary manner, metal washers 8 being provided on opposite sides of the loop to prevent the rivet pulling through or becoming loose.

The pulling-strap and loop are generally formed of a single strap, anend portion of the latter being returned and connected to he slidable connection between the loop I the body of the strap between its ends, so as to form the loop, the connecting means being the rivet or fastening employed for attaching the loop to the horn. the range of usefulness of the appliance, the loop is made adjustable, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 2, and is separable, the parts being adapted to be buckled together as commonly practiced when it is required to adj ustably connect or conple straps.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. The combination with a shoe-horn, of a loop connected therewith and adapted to receive and embrace the rear portion of a shoe and engage with the inner end of the heel to hold the horn in place and provide for drawing the shoe upon the foot substantially as set forth. g

2. The combination with a shoe-horn, of a connected pulling-strap and loop attached thereto, the loop being adapted to engage with the heel portion of the shoe, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination, a shoe-horn, and a combined loop and pulling-strap having a loose connection with the shoe-horn so as to-admit of the loop being disconnected from the heel In order to increase.

of the shoe after the latter is in position upon the foot, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination, a shoe-horn having a longitudinal slot at its upper or smaller end,

a combined pulling-strap and loop, and a fiaste ning slidably connecting the loop with the horn and operating in the slot thereof, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination, a shoe-horn having a longitudinal slot at its upper or smaller end, a combined pulling-strap and loop, and a. fastening slidably connecting the loop with the horn and having an oblong or shouldered portion working in the slot thereof to hold the parts in alinement, substantially as set ,forth.

6. In combination, a shoe-horn, a combined pulling-strap and loop connected with the shoe-horn, and means for varying the size of the loop to adapt the device for diifere'ntsized shoes, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I'claim the foregoing my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM HERMAN LEWIS. 

